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January Invoice- The January invoice has been sent out. If any remaining credits remained from the December invoice, those would then have been applied to the January invoice.
Invoice -
If you need your monthly bill to be itemized and separated by your library, please put in a and we will track which libraries will need that done monthly. We will provide a breakdown via excel sheet.
This Knowledge Base Article will have instructions on what is needed for Billing/Making payments moving forward. has also been updated with this information.
Crates/Labels -
Please take this 5-question survey on crates.
We have ordered more zip tie labels that we are currently using. We have also ordered zip tie labels with metal grommets that should be stronger and cold temperature-rated adhesive labels for the testing crates. Those should be going out some time this week.
We also now have bungee balls in circulation to test securing the crates.
WPL Contact Info -
For questions or small issues please reach out WPL's Billings Dispatch team.
Email:
Phone: 406-245-8622
Repeated Issues or Serious Issue -
Please make
Common Libby Trainings:
Highlighted Training - Download or Stream Titles in Libby
Learn how to enjoy materials when not connected to an internet connection.
More Libby/OverDrive trainings can be found on MSL's MontanaLibrary2Go website under Help Guides and Support.
The Montana History Portal Teacher Workshop will be held April 3 - 4 at the Montana Heritage Center.
Registration is limited to 20 people and the deadline to register is March 1, 2026. Learn more here:
MontanaLibrary2Go Membership Meeting will be held on Zoom on March 4th, 2026 at 2PM.
For more details, the Zoom Link, and Meeting Materials, please visit the event page here: MontanaLibrary2Go Membership Meeting FY2027
All library types (Academic, Public, School, Special, and Tribal College) are encouraged to spend a moment to fill out the Library Resource Sharing Priorities Survey.
The Montana Education Interim Budget committee is studying library resource sharing options available in Montana. The survey hopes to collect a wide range of perspectives. Any and all Library staff input will help MSL and the Education Interim Budget Committee better understand how libraries would prioritize state funding for resource sharing programs.
Here is the survey:
For additional information on the study, please read here: Interim Budget Committee Reports
IMLS is once again offering competitive grant opportunities, with an upcoming deadline of March 13, 2026. State Library Administrative Agencies are eligible to apply, and we know you also have connections to other eligible libraries and can help us spread the word.
In addition to the announcement below, which some of you may have received independently, here are a few considerations that are specific to this year and to the library programs, in particular:
- Please pay careful attention to the cover letter in front of the NLG-L and LB21 Notice of Funding Opportunity to determine if your idea is aligned with current IMLS priorities.
- Community-Centered Implementation (CCI) projects, which started in FY25 and might be well-suited for smaller institutions, are a continued project category in NLG-L and LB21. CCI projects should adapt existing models (practices, findings, tools, and/or partnerships) to a specific organizational context. The application must clearly identify and align the proposed work with an established model (standard, practice, toolkit, open-source software, or research finding) and demonstrate how the project is using or adapting the identified model. Projects should share resources and lessons learned that can be used by libraries and archives in other communities throughout the nation.
- IMLS has reduced staff capacity. Our colleagues will be providing limited technical assistance and will be unable to read draft materials. Email imls-librarygrants@imls.gov with questions and a staff member will get back to you.
- The Native American Library Services Enhancement Grants (NAE) and Native Hawaiian Library Services (NH) NOFOs will be available soon. These programs will have an April 10 deadline.
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Get your story writing skills ready! The Montana History Portal is hosting the 6th Annual Historical Picture Prompt contest. Using any photo in the Portal collection as a story prompt participants will write a fictional short story (650 words or less) and enter through our submission form. Winners will be chosen from grades 3-6, grades 7-12, and adult. Entries will be accepted starting January 5, 2026, and the deadline to enter is February 27, 2026.
For more information, photos, and submitting your entries, go to the Montana History Portal Contest page here:
https://www.mtmemory.org/pages/writingcontest
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The Montana State Library has a brief survey that will help us better understand what services school libraries are currently offering and what sharing services you might be interested in adding- including subscriptions (like SORA, EBSCO, or ILS system)! Please take a moment to complete this survey when you can. It will take about 10-15 minutes.
The Montana State Legislature is conducting a Library Shared Services Study this year and we would like to hear from our schools to make sure the outcome of that study reflects your needs. We would also like to hear more from our Class B and Class C Schools. This survey will be very useful and will help us paint a better picture of what School Libraries currently look like and the tools utilized, and also what would be most helpful as an additional educational resources to your students. In addition to supporting the study, this information will also be helpful to the State Library on gathering the needs of school libraries and their students.
If you are a Public Librarian: Please feel free to pass this along to your local school librarians.
We hope to better understand your current services, wish list, and the challenges our school libraries face. We highly appreciate your input!
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Are you ready to step into leadership—right where you live? From the sweeping plains to mountain-town main streets, rural Montana is a canvas of opportunities. While all of Montana qualifies as “rural” by federal standards, the lived experience varies greatly—from small towns with city councils, to unincorporated valleys, to remote communities anchored by volunteer networks. What unites them is the power of people who show up.
Join us for a virtual presentation led by leader Tracy McIntyre, Executive Director of the Montana Council of Cooperatives and Montana Cooperative Development Center. This session is designed for anyone who cares about their community and wants to lead—not by title or loud voice—but by presence, purpose and participation. In this session, you will:
- Celebrate why rural is an incredible place for leadership.
- Learn how to map out your civic landscape and where you can engage.
- Uncover how apathy creeps in—even in vibrant communities—and how you, as a leader, can counter it.
- Explore the concept of quiet rural leadership
- Get actionable ideas and items that you can implement and reflect on.
Why this matters: In rural communities, the decisions made at the county seat, the city council meeting, the library board session, the school board hearing—they matter. They shape your quality of life, your opportunities, your sense of place. And you have a role.
You’re more than a spectator—you’re a stakeholder. We invite you to claim that role. To lead where you live. To show up because you believe in your community’s future. We’ll give you the tools, the inspiration, and the encouragement. You bring the boots on the ground spirit of Montana.
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Have you completed a building assessment or preliminary architectural report (PAR) for your library? We'd like to hear about your experience! Please contact Cara [corban@mt.gov] if you're willing to tell us about it.
Your insight can help us support other libraries with this process. Thank you for your leadership!
 Montana library community, please let your communities know about the following ongoing book discussion/book club - Montana Reads: The Treasure State's Book Club, celebrating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence next year.
The Montana 250th Commission recently launched a year-long series of virtual events designed to build excitement around the United States’ 250th birthday in 2026. “Montana Reads: The Treasure State's Book Club” is a monthly online book discussion that will cover exciting topics and figures from United States, Montana, and Tribal history.
Each month, a member of the Montana 250th Commission will lead a presentation and discussion on books that explore myriad aspects of our shared history - from the Founding Fathers to Montana statesmen and women, cultural traditions to amazing innovation. These monthly discussions will feature conversations around the books’ central themes, seeking applications to current challenges and initiatives facing our state and nation. Montanans are encouraged to participate in any and all of these events that they find interesting, and where possible to read the book in advance.
All “Montana Reads” events will be held by Zoom on the second Thursday of each month, from 6:30 – 7:30pm MT. The Montana 250th Commission is excited to share these stories with all Montanans and will be bringing in special guests where possible to further bring this history to life.
Thurs., March 12 – A History of Montana in 101 Places: Sites and Stories from the Montana Historical Society
Thurs., April 9 – One Vast Winter Count: The Native American West before Lewis and Clark by Colin G. Calloway
Sign up here on the Montana Historical Society webpage.
For further information on the Montana 250th Commission, please visit Montana 250 or email mt250@mt.gov.
Ideas on how to get involved, visit the Get Involved page here.
Reimagining Service 2035 is a bold effort to reinvigorate volunteering in America. Aiming to bring the benefits of volunteering—stronger connections, increased empathy and trust, and bridge building—to individuals, communities and societies, we’ll double the number of people who volunteer by the year 2035.
Points of Light is conducting two national surveys to understand how people and organizations engage in service. These surveys will increase understanding in how individuals serve communities, how organizations recruit and support volunteers, what drives participation, and what barriers stand in the way.
Ultimately, they will influence the National Volunteer Strategy.
Please take the survey that fits you best and share it with your networks. Broad participation ensures the strategy reflects the realities of people and organizations nationwide.
- One survey is for individuals who volunteer, formally or informally. The other is for organizations or practitioners who manage volunteers.
To learn more about Points of Light, and the Reimagining Service Project which includes this survey visit,
Do you have library volunteers who deserve recognition?
The Governor’s Office of Community Service (GOCS) announced today that nominations for the annual ServeMontana Awards are now open.
This award has recognized Montanans from across the state for over 10 years. This year nominations are open until March 31st, 2026. The public is encouraged to nominate individuals and groups of all ages and backgrounds for their outstanding volunteerism and leadership. All service must be performed in Montana or by Montanans. The ServeMontana Awards are presented in partnership with Montana’s Credit Unions.
“We encourage Montanans to nominate outstanding community volunteers from every corner of our great state” said Sarah R. Sadowski, Director of GOCS. “The individuals and groups who volunteer are essential to communities and preserve our Montana way of life. We look forward to honoring the people who make positive impacts through volunteer service.”
To learn more and submit a nomination, visit serve.mt.gov or go to
This Survey. Selected awardees will be notified in May and honored at a ceremony in June.
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